Toy shooting device



March 11 1924.

J. SKALA TOY snoowme nrsvxcn 1 Filed July 16. 1923 Patented Mar. ll, 1224.

JOSE]? SKALA, 0F PLZEN, GZEGHOSLOVAKIA.

TOY siroo'rme DEVICE.

Application filed July 16, 1923 Serial No. 651,938.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnr SKALA, a citizen of Czechoslovak Republic, res1d1ng at Plzen, Skvrnany. Czechoslovakia, have invented a new and useful Toy Shooting Device, of which the following is a specification. i

The present invention relates to a toy shooting device in which a tension spring constitutes the projectile and consists in providing the same with a carrier extending the whole length of the spring when this is stretched, a releasable holding device to engage one end of a spring projectile of helical or spiral form and a part at the end of the carrier against which the other end of the spring projectile abuts while it is being stretched.

Two forms in which the present invention may be carried into effect are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as examples.

Figs. 1 and 2 show two views of one form of a spring projectile in an unstretched condition,

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified form,

Fig. 4 is a side view of a pistol for firing the projectile,

Fig. 5 is a broken longitudinal view of a toy gun,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the gun as seen from the under side,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line VIL-VII in Figs. 5 and 6,

Fig. 81's a detail view of the back-sight, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a projectile for the gun.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 the spring 1 constituting the projectile is given outwardly the form of either a cone with the apex at the forward end (Fig. 2) or of a cylinder (Fig. 3). The first coil of the spring leaves a free central opening 2 while the last coil is bent so as to provide two lateral outstanding. loops 3 which serve as grips for stretching the spring.

Such a spring projectile can for example be put under tension upon a finger placed inside and then shot off by releasing it. It is more advantageous however to employ a toy arm as for example a pistol or gun for shooting. As shown for example in Fig. 4c a pistol is provided with a forwardly extendingcarrier stem 4 which is either conical as shown in full lines or cylindrical as shown in dotted lines and the stem is pro vided at its forward end with a point 5 of reduced diameter which enters the opening 2 in the spring so that the forward end of the spring is held back by the engagement of the first coil against the shoulder on the end of the stem. The spring 1 is stretched along. the stem 4 until the loops 3 on the last coil of the same pass over noses 6 upon a double end-ed latch whereby the spring is secured. The double latch is mounted in a recess 8 in the pistol grip 7 upon a pivot 9 and by a downward exten sion 10 constitutes the trigger. The trigger spring 11 is fastened to the grip 7 so as to constitute at the same time the'trigger bow.

In place of a conical or cylindrical spring 1 a spiral spring might also be employed. The pistol or the like can also be provided with a barrel covering the stem 4. It would however also be possible to employ such a barrel asa direct outer guide for a spring projectile to be inserted therein. In this case the forward end of the latter could be provided with laterally projecting abutments and if the barrel be undivided, a fork or the like could be employed for stretching the spring or the barrel could be provided with longitudinal slots for the side loops 3 of the spring 1.

After drawing the 1 while guided by the and by virtue of-its trigger 10 the spring stem 4c closes together own energy continues in flight so that the closed spring constitutes a projectile. Such a projectile however remains elastic and strikes the mark softly so that no wounding or damage takes place at the spot which is struck.

Referring to the development of the sub ject-matter of the invention in the form of a childs gun shown in Figs. 5 to 9, a barrel 20' is secured to a butt 7 (Figs. 5 and 6) and within the barrel is concentrically arranged a carrier stem on rod 4: the rearward end of which is secured to the butt 7 while the forward end thereof is left free and provided with a pin 5 of reduced diameter. The barrel 20 has on its under side a slot 21 extending over almost the whole length of the barrel.v On one side.

7 one of the side recesses angle of movement being limited by a pin 25 inserted in a slot 26 (Fig. 5). The trig ger 10 is held. by a spring 11 which constitutes at the same time the trigger bow and which is connected on the one hand with the trigger and on the other hand with the guide ring 23. The trigger is provided with a hook 6 for engaging and stretching the spring projectile. Lateral projections 27 are provided on the guide ring 23 to en able the ring to be readily graspec.

In the butt 7 a vertical guide passage 28 is provided which registers with an opening 29 in the barrel 20 in which opening projects however a pin 30 formed out oi? the material of the barrel. In the guide 28 is provided a sighting device 31 in the form of a strip of metal having a series of adjusting holes 32. The upper end of the stripis widened and provided with a sighting notch. At the forward end of the barrel 20 is located the foresight 34:

(Fig. 5).

The projectile 1 (Fig. 9) has the form of a cylindrical helical spring the ends being reduced in diameter or rounded off and the forward end being provided with an opening 2 for the reception of the pin 5 At the rearward end of the spring axially extending loop 35 is formed.

For shooting, the projectile is so placed in the barrel 20 that its forward end butts againstv the shoulder on the tree end of the rod 4. .The trigger and cooking device is pushed forward along'the barrel 20 until the hook 6 engages in the loop The free end of the hook (3 lies close to the side of the rod l (Figs. 5 and 7) so that the loop when engaged cannot slide oil the hook. The trigger device is then grasped by the projections 27 and drawn back and in so doing the projectile l is put under tension by the hook 6. ll henthe de ired tension of the spring has been attained the trigger device is slightly rotated until the inner portions 24-v of the same engage in 22 provided inv the slotin the barrel 20, whereupon. the projections 27 being released, the trigger device 10, is secured in the adjusted position, since it is pressed against the end wall of the recesswhich is preferably undercutby the pull of the spring 1.

Upon pulling the trigger 10 the hook 6 releases the loop 35, the projectile is drawn together and shoots forward owing to the stored up energy which is thus released, the range depending upon the selected tension of the spring 1, that is to say, upon the position of the trigger device 10, 28 upon the barrel 20 that may have been selected.

. Thus it is possible, where the range is necessarily short, as for example in a small room, to. ad ust the energy of the projectile and so avoid 1n ury to the object struck wherequently be easily hooked on.

as for longer ranges, the energy of the projectile can be correspondingly increased. Tn accordance with the range the sighting device 31 is vertically adjusted by passing the pin 30 through one of the holes 32..

In order to ensure that the loop shall slide oil the hook 6 on the trigger 10 in a proper manner. the inner ends oi: the parts 2 1 of the guide ring 23 are extended as tar as the under side of the loop 35 (Fig. when this is hooked, so that they support the loop as until the loop is released. by the hook G The slot 21 in the barrel can be carried so far forward that when the guide ring 23 is in its most forward position the hook 6 is located in the mouth of the barrel and the loop 35 of the projectile can consc The guide ring is then first drawn back whereupon the forward end over the end 5 of the rod.

The toy shooting device according to this invention is primarily intended torchildren; by a'suitable modification it can however also take the term of a small gun or ot a pistol. A construction may also be chosen in which the red d is omitted and the spring 1 has lateral projections or the like adapted to abut against the end of the barrel. r

In certain cases the spring may be provided at its "forward end with a covering cap of a spherical or like form or other shell differently shaped and fixed.

I claim: Y

1. A shooting device, comprising a coiled spring projectile. a carrier concentrically disposed relatively to the projectile, said carrier affording an abutment for engagement by the forward end of the projec ile, means for applying tension to tie project le in opposition to the abutment and means for releasing the tensioned projectile.

2. fl. shooting device. comprising" a coiled spring projectile, means extending axially through the projectile afiiordiug an abut ment for engagement by theiitorward end of the projectile, means for applying tension to the projectile in opposition to the abutment and means for releasing the tensioned projectile. v

3. A shooting device, comprising a coiled spring projectile, a carrier concentrically disposed relatively to the projectile, said carrier attordingan abutment for engagement with the forward end otthe projectile and means, including a trigger, operable to tension the projectile in opposition to the abutment and for. releasing the same.

4. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, a carrier concentrically disposed relatively to the projectile, an abutment. at one end of said carrier for the first coil at the forward endof the projectile,

the trigger 10 is pulled of the projectile is pulled a butt on the other end of the carrier, a catch pivoted in the butt to en age the last coil at the rearward end of t e projectile when the projectile is under tension and a spring-controlled trigger device to normally hold the catch in the engaged position, substantially as set forth.

5. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, a carrier for the projectile, an abutment at one end of said carrier for the first coil at the forward end of the projectile, a butt on the other end of the carrier, a pivoted catch adapted to engage the last coil at the rearward end a spring-controlled trigger for operating said catch, means whereby the trigger and catch can be moved longitudinally along the carrier, means of detachably holding said catch in position against the tension of the projectile and means for sighting along the carrier, substantially as set forth.

6. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, a barrel for said projectile, a fixed rod centrally located in the barrel and forming a carrier, an abutment at the forward end of said rod for one end of said projectile, a pivoted catch adapted to engage the last coil of the projectile, a spring-controlled trigger to operate said catch, a slide to which said catch and trigger are pivoted, means of traversing said slide along said barrel, means of releasably holding said slide in a position to maintain said spring under the desired tension, a butt on the rear end of the barrel and fore and back sights, substantially as set forth.

7. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, a barrel for said projectile, a longitudinal slot in said barrel, a butt on the barrel, a rod fixed in the butt and extending centrally through said barrel so as to form a carrier, an abutment at the forward end of said rod for one end of the projectile, a split ring slidably surrounding the barrel, spaced inwardly directed extensions on the ring projecting through the slot in the barrel, a catch pivoted between said extensions to engage the last coil at the rearward end of the projectile, a springcontrolled trigger to normally maintain the of the projectile, v

catch in engagement with the projectile, recesses in the slot in the barrel to engage said extensions when said ring is turned to hold the projectile under tension, substantially as set forth.

8. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile and a carrier for the projectile constituting a fixed abutment for the forward end thereof, the coils at the forward end of said projectile being gradually reduced in diameter substantially as set forth.

9. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, coils of gradually increas ing diameter at the forward end of said projectile, coils of equal diameter following said forward end, and a carrier for the projectile adapted to form a fixed abutment for the forward end of the projectile sub stantially as set forth.

10. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, coils of gradually increasing diameter at the forward end of said projectile, coils at the rear end thereof of gradually decreasing diameter and intermediate coils of equal diameter, and a carrier for the projectile adapted to form a fixed abutment for the forward end of the projectile substantially as set forth.

11. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, a carrier concentrically disposed relatively to the projectile, means whereby the projectile can be stretched, means for holding the projectile under tension and means for releasing the projectile when under tension substantially as set forth.

12. A shooting device comprising a coiled spring projectile, a carrier for the projectile, a butt on the carrier having a vertical guide passage, means for sighting along the carrier comprising a back sight adjustably mounted in said passage, means whereby the projectile can be stretched and means for releasing the projectile when under tension substantially as set forth.

7 J OSEF SKALA. Witnesses VLASTA ZAsri'mov, V. PLATZER. 

